Sidesaddle.



No. 868,825. v PATENTBD 00T. 22, 1907.

M. M. VAN VBGHTEN.

SIDESADDLB. ArrLmA'rioN P ILBD 11110.26. 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 868,825.. PATBNTED 00T. 22, 19o?.

' M. M. VAN VEGHTEN.

SIDESADDLB. l APPLICATION FILEDDBO. 28. 1906.

z sums-sum1' 2.

A sidc-saddlcs ot' tho ordinary typo, in using which tho Vprincipal olijocts of this invention is to providc n sad- MAlllL M. VAN VECHTEN, OF NEW YORh, N. YA

SIDESADDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application ilotDece'mber 26, 1906. Serial No. 349,433.

` To all ywhom it 'may concern:

lio il kn'own that l` Maurin M. 'VAN Vicn'rnN, a citizcn ol' thi,I Uniti-d Statics and a rosidcnl` of Now York, in thc county ol' Now York and Stato o1' Ncw York, havo invcntod ccrtzriu now and ust-ful lluprovcrnouts in Sidcsaddlcs ol' which thc following is a spccitication.

'lhis inrontion rclittos to improvciuouts iu sidcsaddlcs, and thc main ohjcct of thc invcntion is to providc :i toc-piocc lorniing a rcsistancc point against which thc right toc oi thc rider may prcss, and con stituting suhst-.intially a rovcrsod stirrup.

ln sidc-siuhllos as horctoiorc coustructcd, thorc has hcvu uo provision [or holding thc right'y too of thc ridcr in a txcd position or l'or holding iu such'a u'taunc as to cnalilc thc ridcr to control hor position in tho saddle hy upward prcssuro ol' thc right. toc against a iosistancc point. lhavc found that a 'hot lcr riding position, and a unich niorosccurc scat. can hiiuaintainod than with right tout is practically misumiortcd.

ln ordinary sidc-sziddlcs practically thc wholowoight of thc ri-dcriscouslantlythrown tothclci't or ncarsidc of thcholsc and saddlo, and tho pullot' thcsaddlc upon tho` horst-s hack is chictly down 'ard and to the loft. This pull is Vol-y unich lcsscnod ina sido-saddlohaving a toepiccc ol' tho charactcr dosorihod [or thc right, loot, as with such a dcvicc tho right toc cXcrts a strong pull upward and to thc ht iron] thc` point of support ot the undcrsido ol' thc right` thigh ou thc saddlc, especially ucar tho right knoc.`

Ono ot' thc chiot tulrantagcs resulting troni this construct ion is that it is unich casicr to riso at tho trot thanv is thc 'caso in using'i1rdiiiarysidcfsaddlos, aud onc oi the dlc in which thc ristl at thc trotV is unido easy. When thc` right toc has a suhstantially Ixcd point to pull against it is oasy toliriug into full play thc action of thc right kuco and to cuahlo tho ridcr to riscI hy swinging upward about thc right knoo joint as a t'ulcruury this motion hciug groatly assistcd hy tho downward prt-ssurc of thc undcr sido ol tho right thigh against the saddlc at a point closo to thc kncc joint, Such an action as this is not possihh whcu thc right too is swinging in tinl air. as iu ridiugsidc-siuldlcsof the ordinary typo. Nor is it possihlc in an ordinarysido-saddlo to avoid having thi right log pinupcd up and down in rising at tho trot; whcrcas with tho too-picco oin- 'ployod hy nic a rcsi. tanco point is providcd which pormits thc risc at thc trot to ho oi'lcctcd hy thc straightcning ol' thc kncc and tht swinging ol the: right'thigh and thc hotly whilo thc right lcg hclow tho kncc is hold imnuavahlo, it boing intpossihlc in thc ordinary typo oi sido-saddlc tohringthc 'inusclcs at thcundcr sido of the right thigh iutoactiou propcrlywhen thc right'lcg below tho knoo is lclt free to niovc up and down. Whcn such a resistance point as that just described is providcd for thc right too, it is also unncccssary for the ridcr to lcan forward in rising at thc trot, as sho is ohligod to do in rising in thc ordinary sidc-sarldlo. With the lcg lirluly hold hclow tho knce the action or thc knco joint and thigh musclcs is suchthat sho can oasily maintain an crect position and rise at thtl trot with lunch loss otl'ort than hcrotoforc. Moreover, in turning 'to thc lci't whilc trotting tho ridcrs sont, iu ordinary sidosaddlcs, is vcry insecure, and the weight is carried still furthcr to thc loft than in trotting straight; ahead,

all ol' which incroascs the dangcr ol falling ofi to tho loir. In my improved saddlo` howcvcr, a much trmor ,scat'niay hc had, and tho Wcight thrown moro to thc iight, h v a pull to the right oxcrt'cd hy the ridor iu the inanncr justdcscrihod Whcuovor hor cquilihriuui is toward thc horsc and against upward nlovcnicnt sidoA motion ot' thc ridcr in rising at tho trot is also provontod.

With such a device tho unsightly moving projcction ordinarily rcsulting l'rour tho sticking out oi thc right toe to tho lcft and thc moving up and down ol thc right lcg'bolow thc kno@ disappcars. A veryr squaro scat also results from the uso ot' this device, and a much stronger grip is obtained on'thc ol'l' crutch and on tho nc-.tr crutch or lcaping-hcad than in thc. ordinary forni of sido-saddle. i

Whilc thc chief advantage or' my invontion is that it renders it casy for a ridor to riso at thc trot, it is also a valuable aid to thc rider who desires to sit down in tho saddle in trotti-i ng, as thc jar upon such a ridcr is unich loss violent when the` body is braced by the too.-

pioce than when tho ordinary l'orin ot' sido-saddlo is usod. l

curo, hut in a saddlo equipped with a tocpioco such as doscrihcd tho act ol rising follows the gripping oi thc crutches and thc pull on tho toc-picco by tho right i'oot, and oven if in tho air, cloar ol thc saddltahor grip on tho crutches, too-picco and saddlc will hc so strong that hor scat will 4bc sccuro.

ln the drawings accompanying this' spccit'icat-ion 'stirrup shown in Fig. 4.

to tl1eend of a strap fastened to the off side of the saddle, instead of being rigidly connected with the near point of the saddle-tree, as in the previous views. Fig. 5.is a full view of a horse and rider, the view being on a reduced scale, illustrating the attachment of such a loose toepiece or reversed stirrup to the off side of Athe saddle. Fig. G is an enlarged detail of the toe-pieceor reversed connected to the near side of the saddle, preferably to` the near point of the saddle-tree. Th e remaining views illustrate a device ,having the same function loosely attached lto the end of a strap fastened, as by a buckle, to the off side. of the saddle in such a manner that the upward pull thereon is transmitted directlyto a point of connection, preferably high up on the off side of the saddle.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive, 2 designates generally a saddle-tree of a side-saddle having the usual off crutch 3, near crutch or leaping-head 4, and near point` 5, the last of which forms an extension of the saddle-tree proper, and the first two of which project from the saddle-tree in the well-known manner. A device adapted to form a re-.

sistance point against which an upward pull may be exerted by the right toe is substantially rigidly connected with this saddle-tree. The resistance device shown is a curved rigid member, preferably of metal, and it is shaped to form substantially a reversed stirrup, that is to say, instead of being a point of resistance against which the-under side or sole of the riders foot will press, it is a point of resistance against which the upper' side of the riders toe' may pull. This device is indicated herein by 6. It constitutes preferably an arched toe-piece conforming to the contour-of the upper side of the toe of a shoe, and willlsually be padded, as indicated at 7; and covered to harmonize with the leather lofthe saddle proper. Itis here shown as havinga shank S perforated for the reception of a 'part towhich it is to he attached, which in the constructions illustrated is a screw 9. A clamping-nut, such as 10, threaded onto the end of thescrew 5), may hold the toe-piece in place in any desired angular position. This screw 9 is here threaded into the lower end of an angular support 11, illustrated as inade of steel tubing internally `threaded at both ends. The screw 9 is threaded into the lower end of said support 11 and may be adjusted in position therein to regulate the height of the toe-piece. In a similar manner a screw 12 is here shown as threaded into the upper end of the tubular support 1l for the purpose of regulating the position of the toe-piece lengthwise of the saddle. This screw l2 is here fastened to a part attached to the near point 5 of a saddle-tree. the member to which it is attached being a bracket 13 having a screw-threaded lug I4 projectingl therefrom into which the screw l2 is threaded, a jam-nut l5 serving to proper position for engagement by thc right toe of a l I rider of any height, a few inches in `each directionbcing i a sufficient adjustment to accommodate riders of all the usual heights.

All of the other parts of the saddle are or may be of l l l usual stirrup for the left foot is indicated-a1 '1G attached by a strap 17/ to the lnear side of the saddle in the wellj known manner. The relative. positions of the crutches, the stirrup for the left foot and toe-piece or reversed i stirrup for the right foot, are indicated in Fig. 2, in I, which both of the stirrups are properly adjusted as to l height to obtain the mo'st perfect grip upon the crutches l and saddle. With the parts so ortanized, with the left l knee immediately below and slightly separated norl mally from the under side of the leaping-head 4, the i. pressure of the left kriee may at any time instantly be i brought against the leaping-head and pressure of the j right toe against the'toe-piece 6 and of the under side of the right thighagainst the pommcl of the saddle. The

result of anypressure or upward pull against the undery l, side of the horse, which counteracts the normaly tendency of the weight of the rider to draw the saddle down t on the near side. i

' Figs. 4 to'6 inclusive illustrate anextremely simple type of the device, which may be used to advantage if permanent attachments tothe saddle are not desired. lt consists only of a strap fastened,- as by a buckle, to the off side of the saddle, and a toe-piece of .proper construction secured to the free ond of the strap, this toe-piece being of any suitable type provided it embodies a resista-nce piece that will fit over the right to and against which the right toe may pull. .Here it is substantially thereof is arched as before, and padded at 18. The Vstrap by which it is connected to the off side of the saddle is shown at 19 and is adjustable to different heights for different riders, if desired. This type of toe-piece accomplishes the same pdrpose as the other, but its proper use is dependent upon the possession of aA good' knowledge of riding, and sufficient skill in the use of the device to keep it in engagement with the toe. The other parts with which this reversed'stirru'p coacts are the same in these views as in those previously described. l

It will be seen that neither in the type oi device shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive nor in that shown in Figs. '4 to 6 inclusive is there any large and unsightly projection as a result of the presence of a device of this type.

covered either by the near flap 20 of the saddle or by the riders boot, whilcfinthe other type of device there are no parts other than a strap and a small stirrup to which the strapis connected. Iii-the main illustrative views, Figs; 2 and 4, such parts of the device as are in sight in those views will in actual use be covered entirely by the skirt of the rider, the skirt not being shown in these In the fixed type of device much of the attachment is v the conventional type found in side-saddles. Thev saddle is that the saddle tends to`pull toward th off a stirrup, and is indicated by 17. The working portion views, as it would prevent a proper illustration ol the parts.

What I claim is:

1. 'lhe combination with a side-saddle having' a stirrup for the left foot, of a toepiece secured to the saddle and located when in use at the near side thereof above. and in advance of said stirrup and in position to be engaged hy theright toe of the rider and resist upward movement thereof.

2. The combination with a side-saddle having, a slirrup for the left foot. oi= an adjustable toe-pieve secured to the saddle and located when in use at the near side thereof above and in advance ot' said stirrup and in position to be engagettlhy the right toe oi the rider and resist upward movement thereof.

Il. 'lhe combination with a side-saddle having; a slirrup for the left foot, of a vertirally-adjustable toe-pie to the saddle and loraterl when in use at the near side thereof above and \in advanve of said slirrup and in position to be engaged by the right tor ol" the rider'und resist upward movement thereot'-,

-i. 'ihe combination with a side-saddle having,- a stirrnp for the lei't foot, ot a toe-piece serured lo the saddle and Vadjustable verticallf.F and also lengthwise thereof and located when in use at the near Side ot' the saddle. above and in advanve o1' said stirrup and in position to be engaged by the righi toe oL lbe rider and resist. upward lnovenient. thereof.

5. The combination with a side-saddle havingr a stirrup for the lel't foot and also having.; an oi'flerutch and a leapingdiead. ot' a loe-pieve secured to the saddle and lotated when in use at the near side thereof between and in advanr'e of the leaping-head and said stirrup and in position to be engaged by the rie-ht loe ol' the rider and resist upward movement thereof.

li. l`he roinhiuation willi a side'saddle having.;y a stirrup lor the leit foot, oi' a loe-piece secured to the near point.

of the saddle-tree and located above and in advance of said stirrup and in position to be engaged by the right loe of the rider and resist. upward movement thereof.

T. The combination with a side-saddle having a slirrup for the left. foot, of a toepieee serured to the near point. ot the saddle'tree andl located above and in advance oi' said stirrup and 'adjustable in position with respect. to said point and in position to be engaged by the right toe of the rider and resist upward movement thereof.

S. rlhe combination with a side-saddle havin; a stirrup for the left foot, of a toe-piece secured to the near point of the saddle-tree and located above and in advance ot' said stirrup and adjustable relatively to said point both vertieally and lengthwise of the saddle-tree and in position to be engaged the right toe of the rider and resist upward -niovenient thereof.

Si. 'l'he combination with a side-saddle having' a stirrup for the left foot, of a support attached to the near point of the saddle-tree and adjustable relatively thereto lengthwise ot" said saddletree, and a toe-piece secured to the i'ree end of said support and located aboveand in advance of said stirrup and in position to he engaged b v the riarht. tee of the rider and resist upward inovenn-nt thereof.

i0. 'lhe combination with a side-saddle havin;` a stirrup for the lei't toot, of a support attached lo the near point ot the saddlo-tree and adjustable relatively thereto lengthwise of said saddletree, and a toe-piece secured to the free end of said support and located above and in advance of said stirrup und adjustable thereon vertically of the saddle-tree and in position to lie-engaged by the right loe oi the rider and r sist upward movement thereof.

Signed at New York in the county of New York, and

State of New York, this ZL-lth day of Dcexnher, A. l). 1901".

MABEL M. VAN VECHTICN.

Witnesses Enom: A. FnLLows, C. S. CHAm'loN. 

